Climate change gathering captures Africa aspirations

The recently released report by the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change on 1.5°C of global warming has once again blown the lid off the catastrophic climate change in Cameroon impacts the world is staring at while calling on radical and extreme actions if we are to maintain a sustainable low carbon future and save planet earth. The sobering report is timely, coming weeks to the Katowice, katovitza Climate Change Conference, COP 24 which will provide a platform for governments and other players to place a pulse on the Paris Agreement on tackling climate change.

With a call to nations to institute rapid and far reaching steps in order to adhere to the 1.5°C threshold, the report comes as climate related vagaries like extreme weather, rising sea levels and diminishing Arctic sea ice take a toll on every facet of humanity. Africa that has become more vulnerable compared to other regions is staring at loss of ecosystem if status quo remains. Up to 100 million Africans are staring at poverty if climate stress persists with major economic sectors like agriculture, tourism and energy facing total collapse. Earlier studies have indicated that a 1.5 °C of warming by 2030 would reduce current maize cropping zones by 40 per cent. Intense flooding in Central Africa and biodiversity damage in Zambia and Malawi are inevitable at current climatic conditions.

These are extraordinary times and extra ordinary measures are needed to address them. Which is why the just concluded 7th Conference on Climate Change and Development in Africa has been timely in coalescing key players in the continent to find a common ground and voice in pushing for climate justice and homegrown solutions for millions of Africans.

The mix of participants who included policymakers scientists, researchers, governments, multilateral development banks, women, youth and community based organizations is an endorsement of leaving no one behind in climate action.

A 1.5°C target is still within reach. Focus should now shift to translating talk into action in implementing the deliberations made at the gathering while amplifying the united voice of Africa at the global level through aggressive and innovative mechanisms to ensure these deliberations count at the negotiation table. To achieve a climate resilient Africa, it can no longer be business as usual.